Door construction



NOV. 22, 1966 R, WEY T 3,286,424

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 4, 1965 744 r if 1 .7 MW/775% twig INVENTORF76 5 HOMER a. WEI NT United States Patent 3,286,424 DOOR CONSTRUCTIONRomer G. Weyant, 81 Edgewater Drive, Elkhart, Ind. Filed Jan. 4, 1965,Ser. No. 423,178 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-291) This invention relates generallyto improvements in the construction of doors, and more particularly toexterior doors that must be straight and true relative to the door jambto provide a good weather seal.

A good weather seal is highly desirable with exterior doors,particularly with doors used in house trailers, and the like. One doorused in house trailers generally comprises a frame on which front andrear panels are mounted. The panels may be made of wood or sheet metal.One side edge of the door is hinged on a side jamb to open into thetrailer. Weatherstripping is fastened on the hinged side jamb, the headjamb and the other side jamb to weather seal the top, and the hinged andunhinged sides of the door when the door is closed. Weatherstripping mayalso be provided along the bottom of the door or on the threshold.

One problem faced in the manufacture and use of such doors is to assurethat a proper weather seal is provided initially and that the seal canbe maintained with use. A good seal along the hinged side of the doorcan be assured when the door is hinged. A good seal for the threeunhinged edges can be obtained initially by manufacturing the door andthe jamb to be straight and true. However, in the industry a guaranteedstraight door within prescribed manufacturing tolerances may be straightand true to within one quarter of an inch. This tolerance is too greatfor house trailer doors and the like where a weather seal along theunhinged edges is of the utmost importance, particularly with wide doorswhich are not protected by a canopy or an awning. Thus it is desirableto provide a door that is straight and true to within less than onequarter of an inch. This tolerance is not commercially practical withconventional door constructions and a slight warp or camber in the jambwill impair the weather seal. Sheet metal panel doors present an evengreater problem. A temperature difference between the front and rearmetal panels may be as high as 50 or 60. The outside sheet metal willcontract with respect to the inside panel to warp or camber the door andthus impair the weather seal. Thus it is desirable to adjust the camberin the door in directions inwardly and outwardly of the plane of thedoor so that the door may be made straight and true for a jamb that isstraight and true or selectively bent to conform to a warped door jamb.

The object of this invention is to provide a door whose camber isadjustable in directions both inwardly and outward of the plane of thedoor by a construction that is simple and economical to manufacture;that provides a door that is straight and true; that simplifies initialinstallation and later adjustment to a warped door jamb; and that doesnot detract from the appearance of the door.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an exterior door constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and hinged on a jamb to swing in an inwardlydirection;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the right side of the door as viewed inFIG. 1 with portions of the door broken away to illustrate a verticalframe member and one of a pair of tension rods for adjusting the camberof the door in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with aportion of the jamb also shown to illustrate the pair of tension rodsdisposed adjacent front and rear faces of the door.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 44 ofFIG. 2 with a portion of the jamb also shown to illustrate an upperthreaded end on each of the tension rods together with a washer and anut for selectively tensioning the rods; and

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2 toillustrate out-of-round heads on the lower end of each of the rods toprevent rotation of the rods when the tension in the rods is adjusted.

Referring to FIG. 1 a door jamb 10 is illustrated as having a pair ofvertical side jambs 12 and 14 and a top or head jamb 16. An exteriordoor 18 is hinged along one side 19, the left side as viewed in FIG. 1,on jamb 12 to swing inwardly, as for example, to open into a room in atrailer. lambs 14, 16 are fashioned with lateral stops 20, 21 (FIGS. 4and 3), respectively, that face inwardly toward door 18. Door 18 fitsclosely in jamb 10 so that a good weather seal can be provided betweenhead jamb 16 and a top edge 22 of door 18 and between an unhinged sideedge 24 and side jamb 14. A bottom edge 26 on the door 18 is arranged tofit closely with a threshold 28.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, door 18 generally comprises a front panel 30 anda rear panel 32. Panels 30, 32 may be made of wood or sheet metal. Awooden frame mem ber 34 extends vertically between the front and rearpanels 30, 32 from the top edge 22 to the bottom edge 28 and directlyadjacent side 24 of the door 18. Panels 30, 32 may be glued directly onopposite faces of frame member 34. A notch 35 is cut in the top cornerof member 34 adjacent side 24 to form a fiat horizontal face 36. A notch37 is cut in the bottom corner of member 34 adjacent side 24 to form aflat horizontal face 38. A longitudinal groove 40 is formed in a frontface of the member 34 adjacent panel 30. A groove 42 is formed in theopposite face of member 34 adjacent panel 32. Grooves 40, 42 extendvertically between faces 36, 38 of notches 35, 37. A front tension rod44 is disposed in groove 40 and the rear tension rod 46 is disposed ingroove 42. Each of the rods 44, 46 has a head 48, 50 at its lower endand a nut 52, 54 threaded on its upper end. Heads 48, 50 are generallyrectangular to engage each other and prevent rotation of rods 44, 46.Disposed between nuts 52, 54 and the face 36 of notch 35 is a flat plateor washer 56, 58, respectively.

A wooden block 60 is disposed in notch 35 and releasably secured tomember 34 as by screws 62. Block 60 has a recess 64 to accommodate theupper end of rods 44, 46 together with nuts 52, 54 and washers 56, 58.Similarly a block 66 is disposed in notch 37 and is releas-. ablysecured to member 34 as by screws 68. Block 66 has a recess 70 toaccommodate heads 48, 50 of rods 44, 46.

By way of illustration two different types of weatherstripping are shownin FIGS. 3 and 4 as being useful with a door constructed in accordancewith the present invention. The Weatherstripping may be in the form ofmetal strips 74, (FIGS. 3 and 4). One edge of strip 74 is fastened tothe inner periphery of head jamb 16. One edge of strip 75 is fastened toside jamb 14. Strips 74, 75 have free edges that engage the respectivetop edge 22 and side edge 24 of door 18. Alternately theWeatherstripping may be plastic beading 76 fastened on stops 20, 21 toabut panel 30 adjacent top 22 and side 24. With either form ofWeatherstripping the tension in rods 44, 46 can be adjusted to make door18 straight and true or to conform door 18 to a warped jamb and thusassure a good seal between the door and the weatherstripping.

The tension in rods 44, 46 can be adjusted selectively by tightening orloosening nuts 52, 54 to straighten member 34 and thus door 18 alongedge 24 or to camber member 34 and thus door 18 to conform to a warpedjamb. For example increasing the tension in rod 44 and relieving thetension in rod 46 bows the top and bottom of member 34 and thus door 18in a direction toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3. On the other hand byincreasing the tension in rod 46 and relieving the tension in rod 44 thetop and bottom of member 34 and thus door 18 are bowed in a direction tothe right as viewed in FIG. 3. By adjusting rods, 44, 46 door 18 can beheld fiat by rods 44, 46 or cambered to conform to a warped jamb andthus assure a good weather seal.

In manufacturing door 18 the tension in rods 44, 46 is set at thefactory by adjusting nuts 52, 54 to make door 18 straight to within lessthan one quarter of an inch along edge 24. Blocks 60, 66 are thenfastened in place. Door 18 can be made straight to within less than onequarter of an inch along edge 19 when the door is fastened on side jamb12. If head jamb 16 and side jamb 14 are straight and true a goodweather seal between door 18 and the Weatherstripping is achieved.However if door 18 has warped prior to installation, block 60 can beremoved and the tension in rods 44, 46 can be adjusted to straightendoor 18 along edge 24. If the side jamb 14 or head jamb 16 is warped thetension in rods 44, 46 can be adjusted to conform the door to the warpedjamb.

It will be understood that the door construction which is hereindisclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation andillustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention,the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door having front and rear panels in spaced relation and havingtop, bottom and side edges forming a continuous margin adapted to fitinto a door jamb, a frame member mounted between said panels and extending vertically substantially between said top and bottom edges of saiddoor and being disposed closely adjacent one of said side edges, saiddoor being adapted to be hinged on said jamb at the other of said sideedges, said frame member further having a pair of longitudinal groovesextending vertically substantially between said top and said bottomedges, one of said grooves being disposed in said frame member adjacentsaid front panel, and the other of said grooves being disposed in saidframe member adjacent said rear panel, and a pair of tension membersextending longitudinally of said vertical frame member in parallelspaced relation, one of said tension members being disposed in one ofsaid grooves and the other of said tension members being disposed in theother of said grooves, each end of each of said tension members havingan abutment engaging opposed horizontal faces adjacent opposite ends ofsaid frame member, one of said abutments on each of said tension membersbeing adjustable longitudinally of said member to selectively adjust thetension in said tension members and thereby selectively adjust thecompression in said frame member adjacent said front face and said rearface.

2. In a door having front and rear panels in spaced relation and top,bottom and side edges forming a continuous margin adapted to fit into adoor jamb, a frame member mounted between said panels and extendingvertically substantially between said top and bottom edges of said doorand being disposed closely adjacent one of said side edges, said doorbeing adapted to be hinged on said jamb at the other of said side edges,said frame member having top and bottom corners at said one side edgethat are notched to form a pair of opposed horizontal faces, said framemember further having a pair of longitudinal grooves extendingvertically substantially between said top and said bottom edges, one ofsaid grooves being formed in said frame member inwardly from said frontpanel, and the other of said grooves being formed in said frame memberinwardly from said rear panel, and a pair of tension members extendinglongitudinally of said frame member in parallel spaced relation andbeing substantially coextensive with said frame member in a verticaldirection, one of said tension members being disposed in one of saidgrooves and the other of said tension members being disposed in theother of said grooves, each end of each of said tension members havingan abutment, the abutments at one end of each of said tension membersengaging one of said opposed faces, the abutments at the other end ofeach of said tension members engaging the other of said opposed faces,and one of said abutments on each of said tension members beingadjustable longi tudinally of said member to selectively adjust thetension in said tension members and thereby selectively adjust thecompression in said frame member adjacent said front panel and said rearpanel.

3. A door having front and rear panels in spaced relation and top,bottom and side edges forming a continuous margin adapted to fit into adoor jamb, a wooden frame member mounted between said panels andextending vertically substantially between said top and bottom edges ofsaid door and being disposed closely adjacent one of said side edges,said door being adapted to be hinged on said jamb at the other of saidside edges, said frame member having top and bottom corners at said oneside edge that are notched to form a pair of opposed horizontal faces,said frame member further having a pair of longitudinal groovesextending vertically substantially between said top and said bottomedges, one of said grooves being formed in said frame member to open atsaid front panel, and the other of said grooves being formed in saidframe member to open at said rear panel, a pair of tension rodsextending longitudinally of said vertical frame member in parallelspaced relation, said tension rods being substantially coextensive withsaid frame member in a vertical direction, one of said tension rodsbeing disposed in said one groove closely adjacent said front panel andthe other of said tension rods being disposed in said other grooveclosely adjacent said rear panel, each end of each of said tension rodshaving an abutment, the abutments at one end of each of said tensionrods engaging one of said opposed faces, the abutments at the other endof each of said tension rods engaging the other of said opposed faces,the abutments at one of said faces being acircular and adapted to engageeach other to limit rotation of said tension rods, the abutments at theother of said faces being adjustable longitudinally of said member toselectively adjust the tension in said member and thereby selectivelyadjust the compression in said frame member adjacent said front paneland said rear panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,105 5/1943Billner 52223 2,578,240 12/1951 Green et al 52-291 HARRISON R. MOSELEY,Primary Examiner.

KENNETH D Examiner,

1. IN A DOOR HAVING FRONT AND REAR PANELS IN SPACED RALATION AND HAVINGTOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES FORMING A CONTINUOUS MARGIN ADAPTED TO FITINTO A DOOR JAMB, A FRAME MEMBER MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID PANELS ANDEXTENDING VERTICALLY SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OFSAID DOOR AND BEING DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SIDE EDGES,SAID DOOR BEING ADAPTED TO BE HINGED ON SAID JAMB AT THE OTHER OF SAIDSIDE EDGES, SAID FRAME MEMBER FURTHER HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALGROOVES EXTENDING VERTICALLY SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN SAID TOP AND SAIDBOTTOM EDGES, ONE OF SAID GROOVES BEING DISPOSED IN SAID FRAME MEMBERADJACENT SAID FRONT PANEL, AND THE OTHER OF SAID GROOVES BEING DISPOSEDIN SAID FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT SAID REAR PANEL, AND A PAIR OF TENSIONMEMBERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID VERTICAL FRAME MEMBER INPARALLEL SPACED RELATION, ONE OF SAID TENSION MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED INONE OF SAID GROOVES AND THE OTHER OF SAID TENSION MEMBERS BEING DISPOSEDIN THE OTHER OF SAID GROOVES, EACH END OF EACH OF SAID TENSION MEMBERSHAVING AN ABUTMENT ENGAGING OPPOSED HORIZONTAL FACES ADJACENT OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBER, ONE OF SAID ABUTMENTS ON EACH OF SAID TENSIONMEMBERS BEING ADJUSTABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MEMBER TO SELECTIVELYADJUST THE TENSION IN SAID TENSION MEMBERS AND THEREBY SELECTIVELYADJUST THE COMPRESSION IN SAID FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT SAID FRONT FACE ANDSAID REAR FACE.